Experiments in Beating Writers Block

Published on by julietrobinsonscot

My writing group friends, and I are doing a small experiment. We have all struggled lately with writing for various reasons.

In my instance my mental health has been on a bit of a rollercoaster. I am doing all the right things; I am moving in the right direction, and nothing lasts forever so this too shall pass – hopefully along with my writer’s block.

Anyway, back to our experiment. We have all been tasked to go out into the world and make use of a recommended technique for overcoming writer’s block. 

Shab’s must do some free writing with no editing and no deleting. Under no circumstances is he allowed to tweak his work, he must push onwards and upwards. This is not an easy undertaking for Shab’s who can’t help but rework and rework and rework his stories. He is his own worst critic.

Janet must pack up her laptop and head to a café where she is to write for an hour. We have agreed she is allowed to enjoy cake and coffee while she is there. For Janet this is not a simple undertaking, its not that she doesn’t like being around people, but she prefers the comfort of quiet places.

I must try something new or go somewhere new. Not a new writing method, simply something new which might inspire a story. I immediately got very excited about this, I started thinking about all the things I want to do – broom making, for some reason I really want to make my own broom. String making, I read a while ago that the plant broadleaf plantain can be processed to make string and since then I have been desperate to figure out how this is done.

But I quickly realised this is just playing into my favourite pastime of researching things. I love to research things, to spend hours learning about them, taking notes, collecting materials and obsessing over something. I have done this a thousand times; I have folders and files stuffed with things I have been into and very few of them have ever progressed much further than this initial research phase.

So, I must try something new. I just don’t know what it will be yet. We have two weeks and then we must report back on our experiment.

Hag Stones on Iona for no reason other than they are beautiful – my own picture.

12 thoughts on “Experiments in Beating Writers Block”

    1. I love them! They are very special, that day I found so many, it was an exception, not the rule! I have a large one outside my front door which I pulled out of an trench whilst excavating a neolithic settlement. It was decided it wasn’t archaeological so was consigned to the spoil heap! I am certain someone back in the past found it on the beach and carried it home as it was clearly special! It really spoke to me and I was glad I could take it home!

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  6. Fantastic experiments! Maybe the stones hold your answer?

    Perhaps because I’m North American I haven’t heard the term “hag stone.” Is this a term for the beach rocks with holes in them?? I have several. We don’t have a name for them, so I’m curious if the name has a story? ❤️

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